Sharp County record., 1887-06-16
TALMAGE'S SERMON,
A Discourse Upon Things Done
Under the Mantle Of Night
The Dark Deeds that Are Continually 'e-
ing Enacted in the Third watch III
the Great Cities-Darisness ana
Crime Hand in Hand.

NIGHT scenes in the great cities, plcturlhg
the crimes and poverty existing ana Ule
many dangers and pitfalls to ha summed.
His text was:
vyatohrnau. what of the night' Isaiah XXI. H.
When night came down o. Baoy ION
Ninevah and Jerusalem. they needeu care
ful watching, otherwise the lncenulary
torch might have been thrust into lhe
very heart of the metropolitan spiendori
or enemies, marching from the mis- IhlBh'
have forced the gates. All nlght long, oh
top of the wall and in front O1 the gaCeS
/ might bA heard the measured step OF the
yvatchrnau on his solitary beat; silence
hing in the air. save as some passer-oy
,-oisad the question: 'Watchman, what
Of the nightm
II is to me a deeply suggestive ana Sol
ernn thing to see a man standing guard Dy
night. Ii thrilled through me, as at Jhe
gate Of an arsenal at Charleston tne ques-
ton once smote me: "Who comes Jherc'
followed bv the sharp command: Au-
vance and give the couuterslgn.' every
uoraI teacher stands on picket, or patrols
-he walls as vatchmau. HIS work IS 10
sound the alarm; and whether II be N the
first watch. IN the second watch IN Jne
hird watch. or in the fourth watch 70 oe
virilaut until the daybreak dlngs lls
morning glorTesn of blooming clouu
across the arching trellis Of the sky.
Z The aucients divided their night lnIo
four parts-the first watch, from SIX 10
nine: the second. from nine to Twelve; the
J third. from twelve to three; ana Jhe
fourth. from three to SIX.
TsDeak now Of the city in the third
watch. or from twelve to three O'Clock.
Iuever weary Of looking upon the lie
and briIliaucy Of the city in the hrst
watch. That is the hour when the stores
, are closing. The laboring men, having
omitted the scaffolding and the shop, are
on their way home. 1t reioices me to give
them ny seat in the CITY car. They nave
T stood and hammered away all day. Ihelr
feet are weary. They are exhausted
with the tug Of work. They are most
chaarful. With appetites sharpened on
the swift turner's wheel and the carpen-
AterJs whetstone, they seek the evening
meal. The clerks, too, have broken saway
I from the counter. and with brain weary
0
Of the long line Of figures and the Whlms
! Of those VINO 20 a-shOpping, seek the lace
nj nOther or wife ana child. The meF-
| chants are embarrassing themselves
from their anxieties on their way up Jne
street. The boys that lock up are heav-
ing away at the shutters, showing Lhe
/ heavy bolts and taking last look at Jhe
/ fire to see that all is safe. The streets
are thronged with young men, setting
out from the great centers Of bargain
making.
Let idlers clear the street, and give
right # way to the besweatei artisans
and merchants They have earned their
bread ana are now on their way home to
get il.
GIe lights in full iet hang over ,iI9lYe d9igSV
end Of the table. the children between.
Thank God. ''who setteth the solitary in
families
A few hours later, and all the places Of
amusement, good and bad, are in full tide.
Lovers of art, catalogue in hand. stroll
through galleries and discuss the pict-
ures. The ballroom is resplendsnt with
the rich apparel of those who. on either
side Of the white, gIistenIHg boards,
await the signal from the orchestra. The
footlights Of the theater fash up; the bell
rings, and the curtain rises: and out from
the gorgeous scenery glide the actors,
greeted with the voclferation Of the
expsetant multitudes. Concert halls
are lifted into euchantmeut with
the warble Of one songstress, or swept
ont on a sea Of tumultuOus feeling oy the
blast Of brazen instruments. Drawing
rooms are filed with all gracefulness II
apparel. with all sweetness of sound. with
all sDlendOr Of manner; mirrors are
catching I'D and multiplying the scene,
until L seems as f n infinite corridors
there were Earianded groups advancing
and retreatinE
The outdoor air rings with laughter,
and with the moving to and fro Of thou
sands on the great promenades. The
dashing span sdrIp with the foam Of the
long country ride, rushes past as you halt
at the curbstone.
Mirth- revelrv, beauty fashion, magnif-
icence ningle in the great metropolitan
picture until the thinking man goes home
TO think more seriously. and the PRAYING
man TO pray more earnestly.
a beautiful and overwhelming thing g
the city L the first and second watches Of
the night.
But the clock strikes twelve and the
third watch has begun.
The thunder Of the city has rolled ont
1f the air. The slightest sounds cut the
night with such distinCtuess as 10 attract
vour attention. The tinkiiug Of the bell
If the street car in the distance, and the
baving Of the dog. The stamp Of a horse
in the next street; the slamming Of a sa-
loon door; the hiccouEh Of the druukard;
the shrek Of the steam whistle five miles
away. o. how suggestive, ny friends,
he third watch Of the night.
There are honest men passing up and
down the street. Hero IS city mission
arv VINO has been carrying a scuttle Of
coal TO that poor family n that dark
pIate. Here IS an undertaken going up
the stems Of a building from which comes
bil5er CRY which indicates that the
destroying angel has smitten the first
born. Here IS a minister Of religion who
has been giving the sacrament 10 a diving
Christian. Here IS a physician passing
along IN great haste, the messenger a few
sters ahead hurryIug On TO the household.
Nearly all the lights have gone uutln the
dwellings. for il IS the third watch Of the
night. That light in the window IS the
light Of the watcher, for the medicines
must be administered. and the fever must
be watched. and the restless tossing of
Of the covelid must be resisted. ana the
ice must be kept on hot temples. aad the
perpetual prayer must 80 up from hears
soon 70 be broken.